The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • U. S. demands more defence spending from NATO allies

    U. S. demands more defence spending from NATO allies

    The United States is as committed to NATO as ever but demands that European allies spend substantially more on defence, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday, while adding that the U.S. would give allies some time to do that.

    Rubio spoke as he met fellow NATO foreign ministers who gathered in Brussels, with Europeans hoping he would dispel doubts about the U.S. stance even with tensions rising over President Donald Trump’s steep new trade tariffs.

    The Trump administration’s words and actions have raised questions about the future of NATO, the transatlantic alliance that has been the bedrock of European security for the past 75 years.

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    “The United States is in NATO … The United States is as active in NATO as it has ever been,” Rubio told reporters, dismissing doubts about that commitment as “hysteria”.

    Rubio added that Trump was “not against NATO. He is against a NATO that does not have the capabilities that it needs to fulfill the obligations that the treaty imposes upon each and every member state.”

    Trump has said the military alliance should spend 5 percent of gross domestic product on defence – a huge increase from the current 2 percent goal and a level that no NATO country, including the United States, currently reaches.

    Washington had also bluntly told European countries it could no longer be primarily focused on the continent’s security.

  • ‘Nigeria, Brazil share common cultural values’

    ‘Nigeria, Brazil share common cultural values’

    • Culture advocate presents book on Ifa to consulate
    • By Evelyn Osagie, Precious Godwin and Anu Ajibade

    Consul General of Brazil Francisco Luz has emphasised that Nigeria and Brazil’s shared cultural values.

    He made the observation during the presentation of “Ifá: The Enlightenment Volume One”, a book by culture advocate and author, Olusegun Daramola, to the Consul General in Lagos.

    According to Luz, who was represented by Ambassador Adeniran Arimoro, the gesture served as a beacon for cross-cultural understanding, emphasising the profound impact of Ifá on a global scale.

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    He said: “Brazil is a cherished home for many Nigerians, and this event served as a testament to the strong bonds between the two nations. Ifa is part of a larger body of work that seeks to promote understanding and appreciation of Ifá wisdom.”

    Adeniran added: “The gathering at the Consulate General became a catalyst for strengthening bonds of understanding. Ifá, revered as a shared cultural treasure, fosters connections and builds bridges between diverse communities.

    “Brazil Consulate General stands not only as a recipient of a treasured volume but as a symbolic space where cultural exchange and enlightenment intertwine.”

    According to the author, the occasion transcends conventional gestures, as it acknowledges the transformative power of Ifá’s teachings, while noting that Ifá, acting as a bridge, facilitates connections that surpasses geographical borders.

  • Nigeria to host Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff summit in Abuja

    Nigeria to host Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff summit in Abuja

    Nigeria is set to host the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staffs summit in Abuja, as part of its commitment to bolstering military cooperation across the continent.

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, announced this when he inaugurated the committee to work out modalities for the maiden edition of the summit slated for June in Abuja.

    He said the upcoming summit is expected to bring together top military brass from across Africa, providing a platform for strategic discussions and cooperation.

    Gen. Musa said the summit is also defining moment for Nigeria as a leading force in Africa’s defence and security landscape.

    The CDS said the committee’s efforts would lay the foundation for a summit meant to strengthen cooperation, enhance defence ties and Nigeria’s leadership in military diplomacy across the continent.

    “I urge you to approach this task with diligence, ensuring that every detail is meticulously planned and executed in line with the best standards.

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    “This summit has to be a grand and remarkable event, one befitting of Nigeria’s status as a continental giant.

    “It will bring together military leaders from across Africa and we must ensure it reflects our nation’s excellence, strength and organizational prowess.

    “You must think innovatively, embrace creativity and incorporate fresh ideas that will make this event not just successful but truly unforgettable,” he said.

    Musa urged members of the committee to engage relevant agencies, units and individuals whose contributions would be instrumental to the success of this summit.

    According to him, effective communication and feedback mechanisms must be established to ensure seamless coordination.

  • I’m not joking about third term as U.S. president, says Trump

    I’m not joking about third term as U.S. president, says Trump

    President Donald Trump yesterday repeated his suggestion he might seek a third term as United States president, which would defy the two-term limit stipulated in the United States’ Constitution.

    In a yesterday morning phone call with NBC News, Trump said: “I’m not joking,” when asked to clarify a remark on seeking another term. He added: “There are methods which you could do it.”

    The 78-year-old billionaire has a long history of suggesting he might serve more than two terms, but yesterday’s remarks – followed by comments to reporters aboard Air Force One – were the most concrete in terms of referring to plans in place to achieve the goal.

    Trump has launched his second presidency with an unprecedented demonstration of executive power, using the world’s richest man Elon Musk to dismantle swaths of the government, and said his supporters want even more.

    “We have almost four years to go and that’s a long time but despite that, so many people are saying you’ve got to run again. They love the job we’re doing,” Trump said yesterday aboard the presidential jet, apparently referring to his political allies and supporters.

    Trump appeared to wave off a reporter’s question about whether he is planning not to leave office on January 20, 2029, the next Inauguration Day, saying: “I’m not looking at that, but I’ll tell you, I have had more people ask me to have a third term.”

    Earlier in the day, Trump told NBC he had been presented with plans that would allow him to seek re-election.

    When the network asked Trump of a possible scenario whereby Vice-President JD Vance would run for president and then abdicate the role to Trump, the president said “that’s one” method.

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    He added that “there are others,” but refused to share further details.

    Amending the U.S. Constitution to allow a third presidential term would require a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate, which Trump’s Republican Party does not have, or a constitutional convention called by two thirds of the states that would propose changes to the charter.

    Both routes appear to be unlikely, given the current number of states and Congressional seats under Republican control.

    Whether he goes through Congress or the states, he would then require ratification from three-quarters of all state legislatures.

    A constitutional convention has never been successfully called in the United States, where all 27 constitutional amendments have been passed by the congressional method.

     In January, days after Trump took office, Republican Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a House joint resolution to amend the constitution to allow presidents up to three terms.

  • Poll: Majority of Americans disapprove of handling of economy

    Poll: Majority of Americans disapprove of handling of economy

    As many as 58% disapprove of U.S. President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, dropping to its lowest level since December of 2017, according to a poll released by the AP-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research.

    The poll, conducted on March 20-24 among 1,229 adults, found that about seven in 10 describe the state of the economy as “poor,” a level of negativity that has remained unchanged since the final weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency in December 2024, when the question was last asked.

    “Trump’s overall job approval is essentially the same as it was when he took office for the first time in 2017, though lower than Joe Biden’s at the beginning of his term,” the poll said.

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    The survey also examined Trump’s policies on migration, foreign conflicts, and trade.

    Asked about the president’s handling of immigration, 49% said they approve, while 50% disapproved.

    On the “Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” 54% disapprove of Trump’s approach, while 44% approve.

    His handling of “trade negotiations with other countries,” amid international criticism of tariffs, received 60% disapproval compared to 38% approval.

    On the Russia-Ukraine war, 56% said they disapprove of Trump’s stance, while 41% approve.

  • Hamas seeks global resistance against Trump’s plan in Gaza

    Hamas seeks global resistance against Trump’s plan in Gaza

    A top Hamas official has called on “anyone who can bear arms” to rise up against U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, a day after Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu said he would let the militant group’s leaders leave the war-ravaged enclave if they lay down their weapons.

    “In the face of this sinister plan – one that combines massacres with starvation – anyone who can bear arms, anywhere in the world, must take action,” Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement.

    “Do not withhold an explosive, a bullet, a knife, or a stone. Let everyone break their silence.”

    Abu Zuhri’s call comes a day after Netanyahu offered to let Hamas leaders leave Gaza but demanded that the Palestinian militant group disarm in the final stages of the war in Gaza.

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    Hamas has expressed a willingness to relinquish Gaza’s administration, but has warned its weapons are a “red line”.

    Netanyahu said Israel was working towards a plan proposed by Trump to displace Gazans to other countries.

    Netanyahu said that after the war, Israel would ensure overall security in Gaza and “enable the implementation of the Trump plan” – which had initially called for the mass displacement of all 2.4 million people living in the Palestinian territory – calling it a “voluntary migration plan”.

    Days after taking office in January, Trump floated a proposal to move Gaza’s population out of the war-battered territory, suggesting that Egypt or Jordan could take them in.

  • Russia restates opposition to NATO peacekeeping troops in Ukraine

    Russia restates opposition to NATO peacekeeping troops in Ukraine

    Russia has repeated its position that it will not accept peacekeepers to Ukraine from any country that has supplied weapons to Kiev.

    In an interview with the Tass news agency, Kirill Logvinov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of International Organisations, said the Europeans “are turning an absolutely deaf ear to warnings that we categorically oppose the very idea of putting boots of those countries which continue to send weapons to Kiev on the ground in Ukraine.”

    Loginov described the collective West as “arrogant” in its refusal to listen to Russia’s position and to continue planning for something they have been told is a non-starter.

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    The French government hosted a summit of 30 countries on March 27, labelled as “the coalition of the willing,” where a number said they were willing to take part in a potential mission in Ukraine.

    Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier in March that a potential deployment of NATO troops under any flag and in any capacity on Ukrainian soil would pose a threat to Russia.

    He said Russia would not tolerate NATO troops on Ukrainian soil “under any conditions.”

    Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky as he struggled to force the truce that he boasted on election that he could achieve almost immediately.

  • Khamenei pledges ‘firm retaliatory response’ to U.S., Israel

    Khamenei pledges ‘firm retaliatory response’ to U.S., Israel

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said any attack by the U.S. or Israel would be met with “a firm retaliatory strike,” after President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran unless it signs a deal renouncing nuclear weapons.

    Still, in the televised remarks yesterday, Khamenei downplayed the likelihood of such an outcome, characterising it as “highly unlikely.”

    Read Also: How to improve border security, by Tunji-Ojo

    His remarks follow a period of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last week that there would be no direct negotiations with the US as long as the Trump administration maintains its “military threats.” In an interview with NBC News over the weekend, Trump said “if they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing.”

    Bloomberg previously reported that Trump had set a two-month deadline for Iran to negotiate a new deal or risk military consequences. In 2018, Trump pulled the US out of the original accord, which had imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Since then, Iran has been building its inventory of uranium enriched just below weapons grade.

    Since the start of his second term, Trump has revived his so-called “maximum pressure” strategy, vowing to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. Tehran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.

  • Khamenei pledges ‘firm retaliatory response’ to U.S., Israel

    Khamenei pledges ‘firm retaliatory response’ to U.S., Israel

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said any attack by the U.S. or Israel would be met with “a firm retaliatory strike,” after President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran unless it signs a deal renouncing nuclear weapons.

    Still, in the televised remarks yesterday, Khamenei downplayed the likelihood of such an outcome, characterising it as “highly unlikely.”

    His remarks follow a period of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last week that there would be no direct negotiations with the US as long as the Trump administration maintains its “military threats.” In an interview with NBC News over the weekend, Trump said “if they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing.”

    Read Also: Iran capable of building nuclear bomb, says Khamenei’s adviser

    Bloomberg previously reported that Trump had set a two-month deadline for Iran to negotiate a new deal or risk military consequences. In 2018, Trump pulled the US out of the original accord, which had imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Since then, Iran has been building its inventory of uranium enriched just below weapons grade.

    Since the start of his second term, Trump has revived his so-called “maximum pressure” strategy, vowing to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. Tehran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.

  • Russia restates opposition to NATO peacekeeping troops in Ukraine

    Russia restates opposition to NATO peacekeeping troops in Ukraine

    Russia has repeated its position that it will not accept peacekeepers to Ukraine from any country that has supplied weapons to Kiev.

    In an interview with the Tass news agency, Kirill Logvinov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of International Organisations, said the Europeans “are turning an absolutely deaf ear to warnings that we categorically oppose the very idea of putting boots of those countries which continue to send weapons to Kiev on the ground in Ukraine.”

    Loginov described the collective West as “arrogant” in its refusal to listen to Russia’s position and to continue planning for something they have been told is a non-starter.

    Read Also: Russia, U.S. agree to temporary ban on attacks

    The French government hosted a summit of 30 countries on March 27, labelled as “the coalition of the willing,” where a number said they were willing to take part in a potential mission in Ukraine.

    Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier in March that a potential deployment of NATO troops under any flag and in any capacity on Ukrainian soil would pose a threat to Russia.

    He said Russia would not tolerate NATO troops on Ukrainian soil “under any conditions.”

    Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky as he struggled to force the truce that he boasted on election that he could achieve almost immediately.